March 2, 1998 - Another work-week gets underway at the State Capitol. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste is watching things from the Capitol Bureau.
March 3, 1998 - Today is the 37th anniversary of the founding of the Peace Corps. Minnesotan and Peace Corps volunteer Marianne Combs is stationed in a poor village in the African country, Ivory Coast. In her latest "Letter from Africa," she describes how hard it is to introduce western health care to people who have to choose between vaccinating a child or buying food at the market.
March 4, 1998 - The devastating flood and fire that struck Grand Forks and East Grand Forks nearly a year ago forever changed the physical face of the communities. The less immediately noticeable changes are perhaps more profound...the disaster stretched and tore the social fabric of the community. In part three of our series on the flood of 1997 Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Gunderson examines how people were changed by disaster.
March 4, 1998 - One of Minnesota's largest health plans has decided to end its administrative relationship with the Buyer's Health Care Action Group or BHCAG. BHCAG is a coalition of some of the state's largest employers including Norwest Banks and 3-M, that pool their collective resources to get better, cheaper coverage from Minnesota health plans. Lorna talks with HealthPartners CEO George Halvorson and BHCAG Executive Director Steve Wetzell.
March 4, 1998 - One of Minnesota's largest health plans has decided to end its administrative relationship with the Buyer's Health Care Action Group or BHCAG. BHCAG is a coalition of some of the state's largest employers including Norwest Banks and 3-M, that pool their collective resources to get better, cheaper coverage from Minnesota health plans. Lorna talks with HealthPartners CEO George Halvorson and BHCAG Executive Director Steve Wetzell.
March 5, 1998 - A new survey shows it is relatively easy for underage drinkers to buy alcohol in Minneapolis . The Minneapolis Health Department undertook the study to gather evidence showing the cost of underage drinking. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson has more.
March 6, 1998 - MPR's Amy Radil reports on Minnesota Opera’s Opera Ventures program. Where a venerable art form like opera is placed in the hands of eleven and twelve-year-olds, anything can happen….and that's just what's been happening on the stage of the Hibbing High school auditorium with the production, "The Diner Blues."
March 6, 1998 - The flood of 1997 set records all along the Red River of the North. The river rose to levels no one alive has ever seen. The high water caused billions of dollars in damage, but it also gave flood fighters some valuable insights that may help their communities and communities across the country fight future floods. In the final part of our series on the flood of '97, Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Gunderson examines what lessons were learned.
March 9, 1998 - Anne Green says more artists need to create work for the Internet, for their own sake, and the net's. Green is project manager of Open Studio, a joint project of the NEA and the Benton Foundation. Open Studio trains artists and art groups how to create and post art online. It also provides public Internet access at arts organizations around the country. Green says artists are behind the curve on the Internet.
March 12, 1998 - Huge images of young immigrants will dominate the atrium of the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis for two days. They are part of a video installation by artist Laurie Phillips who says she wants to give visibility to the powerless and allow them to tell some of their own stories.